Posts by Paul Williams
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Hard News: Spring Timing, in reply to BenWilson,
From memory, Australians put as much thought into electing the individual state governments as we do into electing city councilors. So they get the Australian version of Dick Quax holding very high office, and it’s small wonder that highly dysfunctional coalitions form.
Ben, your memory is faulty on this. The powers of the Territories, which Tasmania is not, are somewhat limited by being subject to Commonwealth enabling laws however it's wrong to compare States with local governments. For example, the vast majority of funding and regulation of schools is a matter for States.
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Ben, I think both parties need to manage their respective strategies to maximise their unique vote while being aware of the vote that shifts between the respective parties.
I am interested in the various comments here that the Greens can attract votes from National. I assumed that's why they've selected candidates like James Shaw at the last election to replace Sue Kedgley.
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Hard News: Spring Timing, in reply to Stephen R,
Agreed, but what influence do you think Matt McCarten will have on the Labour/Green relationship.
He and Liala Harre, I thought, had a good history? Also, in reply to Russel's earlier point, I understand that Grant had a lead role working with the Greens in the last Labour Government (as a senior adviser to Clark).
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I think it's worth noting, at least in my opinion, there's a number of factors benefiting Labour this time compared with last. Firstly, I think Labour will campaign much better this election under Cunliffe compared with Goff (no disrespect to Phil). Secondly, National has a lot more political baggage to defend. Thirdly, as Mike Williams has been saying, Labour's membership is up on the back of the leadership contest. Lastly, McCarten's arrival will be a boost.
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Moz, I don’t have a view on whether Assange is a sex criminal or not, nor do I have a view about Dotcom’s alleged crimes. That said, I wasn’t surprised by the disastrous performance of the Wikileaks Party.
Personally, I’m torn between the view that amateurs shouldn’t expect politics is easy and the view that politics really should be easy and more accessible. I’ve also thought it’s a pity Nandor Tanczos isn’t still in Parliament.
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Hard News: Crashing the party before it starts, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
</presumptuous unsolicited advice>
It's far better than the advice he's paid for however.
I assumed his motivation was comparable with Julian Assange's.
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Hard News: Crashing the party before it starts, in reply to Hebe,
infamous Trevor Rogers bill
Ok, I strained my memory but came up blank...
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Hard News: Crashing the party before it starts, in reply to Russell Brown,
The guy has 15,000 young people turning up to his album launch party on Monday. I think he has ways.
Fair point. And certainly I agree with Bradbury’s entirely reasonable point that Gen Ys Nats will be put off by the prospect of Colin Craig’s influence. I was, somewhat hamfistedly, suggesting Dotcom might invest in better strategist. Ones who don't make the story about themselves.
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Hard News: Crashing the party before it starts, in reply to Keir Leslie,
8k’s a lot for what Bradbury was offering.
I’m picking that’s the high tide mark for Bradbury.
If this ‘splash’ was what was sought by Dotcom, his problem isn’t his consultant, it’s his ambition.
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Hard News: Lowering the Stakes, in reply to Moz,
BikeSaint in Sydney now works for the council as a bicycle planner
Moz, thanks for this reference. I've just started biking to work and am impressed by the progress made developing separated Sydney cycle routes but hadn't heard of Bike Saint (publicaddress now serving as a source of information about where I live as well as where I'm from, whodvethunkit).
The development of a cycling culture could be the Lord Mayor's enduring legacy (actually that possibly does her work with GLBTI community a little disservice)